The holiday season is inching closer and closer as the weather turns grey and ominous. With the joy and merry of seeing loved ones comes the fridged winds of Winter, and with those winds comes another excuse to stay in and browse some of the releases you might’ve missed this year. This week’s Caustic might make that list even longer, as we have a jam-packed list for you this week. From dynamic duos returning triumphantly to a long-awaited solo debut from veterans, 2024 isn’t going out without a fight. Shelter yourself from the blistering cold and dive head-first into refreshing new releases from storied artists.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music below.
Kim Deal – “Are You Mine?”
Nobody Loves You More
Kim Deal has left her mark on indie rock via her timeless work with bands like Pixies and The Breeders, but it is finally time for Kim Deal’s proper solo debut. Nobody Loves You More is a sprawling effort with folksy balladry and distorted anthems, with “Are You Mine?” being an early stand-out. Deal’s raspy vocals fill with soulful undertones and soar over a simplistic, downtrodden arrangement for a poetic outing that solidifies Deal’s legacy as if it were ever up for debate.
Kendrick Lamar – “Squabble Up”
GNX
Surprise! Kendrick Lamar decided to take the afternoon to release GNX, his bouncy new album and first full LP since his lyrical bout with Drake earlier this year. The 12-song album bounces between nostalgic West Coast Hip-hop and soulful vulnerability as Lamar further solidifies his spot as one of the most impactful artists of any genre. “Squabble Up” was first previewed at the beginning of Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video and the full version is better than you could’ve dreamed of. An infectious, neon hook intertwines with Lamar’s alien flows as the artist stamps his ticket for Hip-hop’s 2024 MVP.
Michael Kiwanuka – “Small Changes”
Small Changes
Coming off the heights reached with his 2019 self-titled effort, singer/songwriter Michael Kiwanuka returns with his fourth studio LP, Small Changes. The stunning 11-song album puts the artist’s songwriting in the spotlight like never before, employing a bluesy minimalism elevated by Kiwanuka’s songwriting prowess. The title track features a steady drum beat and subtle ambiance, with Kiwanuka’s gentle vocals filling the atmosphere.
Kenny Mason – “INTUITION”
Angel Eyes
For his second project of 2024, Atlanta rapper/singer Kenny Mason manipulates modern hip-hop tropes for the quick yet potent Angel Eyes. The 9-song album has Mason stretching his acrobatic vocals further as the artist navigates muddy guitar loops and infectious drum patterns. “INTUITION” welcomes us to Angel Eyes with a moody yet uplifting anthem that features an unforgettable hook and thought-provoking lyrics.
Father John Misty – “Being You”
Mahashmashana
It feels like only yesterday that Father John Misty released his Chloë and The Next 20th Century album, and already, the generational songwriting has gifted us another album. Mahashmashana is a stunningly staggering eight-song album that allows Misty’s songwriting to blend with plush soundscapes that lean on synth-pop influences more than we’ve heard from the artist in the past. “Being You” is a playful ballad with off-setting strings that emphasize the longing in the vocals as Misty dances with his thoughts.
Boldy James & Harry Fraud – “Rabies” (Feat. Benny The Butcher)
The Bricktionary
The prolific and forever impressive Boldy James teams up with the legendary Harry Fraud for The Bricktionary. The hypnotic LP marks James’s third album of 2024 and has the artist employing his signature monotone flow and head-spinning rhymes over many mesmerizing loops courtesy of Fraud. Benny The Butcher swings by with a vicious verse on “Rabies.” With a psychedelic guitar loop anchoring the unpredictable instrumental to earth, James and Butcher trade verses brimming with venom-infused rhyme schemes.
T Bone Burnett & Elvis Costello – “Pure Bubblegum”
The Coward Brothers
After initially working together over 40 years ago, Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett emerged as The Coward Brothers, and they brought a warping debut album with them. The 20-song self-titled LP seamlessly transitions from sentimental folk to experimental rock, proving that time is nothing but a mile marker for the duo as they fearlessly explore new territories decades into their respective careers. “Pure Bubblegum” is a whimsical yet dark storytelling track that finds our heroes heartbroken and questioning how something so pure could end so tragically over dense synth work.
Cameron Winter – “$0”
Heavy Metal
Geese frontman Cameron Winter is gearing up to release a proper solo album before 2024 wraps up, and the lead single might be one of the most moving songs to be released this year. Heavy Metal is set to be released on December 6, and the Tom Waits-style piano ballad “$0” is our lead single. Winter’s off-kilter harmonies create a fusion dance with the thudding piano keys as the artist croons of loving someone who gives nothing back.
Patterson Hood – “A Werewolf and A Girl” (Feat. Lydia Loveless)
Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams
Drive-By Truckers’s own Patterson Hood is back with his first piece of solo material in over a decade as he sets his sights on Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams. The 10-song album is set to be released on February 21 and will mark Hood’s first album since 2012. Lydia Loveless joins Hood on an eerie duet that features magical storytelling coiling around a simplistic arrangement as Hood prepares us for what is promising to be a landmark release for his storied career.
James Brandon Lewis Trio – “Five Spots to Caravan”
Apple Cores
After spending the year touring his collaborative album with The Messthetics, James Brandon Lewis leaps into improvisational jazz on Apple Cores. The entirely improvised album will be released on February 7, and the left-field grooves of “Five Spots to Caravan” welcome us to the project. Hectic yet purposeful saxophone melodies interact with unpredictable drums to create funky textures that explode like fireworks for a statement piece of a lead single.
Horsegirl – “2468”
Phonetics On and On
The indie rock trio Horsegirl announced their first album since 2022 and released an infectious lead single to accompany the exciting news. Phonetics On and On will be released on February 14, and the alien yet familiar “2468” is our lead single. Twagy chaos ensues almost immediately as you get lost in the arrangement just before the vocals pull you out with pop-leaning melodies to juxtapose the subtle experimentation of the instrumentation.
Fat Dog – “Peace Song”
Single
After shaking the rock world with their explosive debut album, Fat Dog closes out the year with a fantastic reimagining of their style. “Peace Song” finds the band pulling back on their prog-rock influences to craft a modern piece of alt-rock that sounds as radio-ready as a song can be. A children’s choir greets massive crescendos as Fat Dog’s throat-scratching vocals fill the verses.
André 3000 – “Moving Day”
Single
With his now Grammy-nominated spiritual jazz album shaking the Hip-hop heads to their core, André 3000 continues down his flute-laden path with three new cuts. The three new tunes find André crafting even weirder orchestrations, with “Moving Day” standing above the others. The nearly 12-minute composition leans to the ambient side as 3000’s flute creates an ethereal atmosphere.
